Rongai Gate Elevation / Altitude: 1950 meters
The Rongai gate also known as Nalemuru or Nalemoru Gate is one of the many access points to enter Mount Kilimanjaro that is located very close to the Kenyan border, on the north-eastern foot slopes of the mountain.
Usually used as the starting point for climbers using the Rongai route to the mountain’s highest summit, Uhuru peak on Kibo volcanic cone.
The Rongai gate has a waiting area in the compound, complete with toilets and a parking area that is pretty small. As usual, just like all the gates on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Rongai gate/ Nalemuru gate has a few administrative offices that belong to the authorities serving mountain climbing tourists going up the mountain.
Rongai gate registration and inspection procedures may include:-
- Passport / Visa verification
- Cross-checking itinerary for every day spent on Mount Kilimanjaro
- Cross-checking to prove if your mountain guide belongs to a registered tour company
- Make sure you have enough resources to support your climb and stay on the mountain such as porters, tents, food, and water
- Verification of Mount Kilimanjaro entry fees
Failure to which entry may be denied.
Location of Rongai gate
The Rongai gate is remotely located near the border between Kenya and Tanzania but more on the Tanzanian side. The gate is situated in the northeastern foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to afforestation efforts by the government for Rongai, the area is filled with tree plantations in the northern part of this area.
The nearest town to Rongai is located in the Northeast, on the Kenyan border.
The area around the Rongai gate or Nalemuru/Nalemoru gate is a water catchment area, with streams flowing from the slopes of Kilimanjaro, one significant stream flows close to the Rongai gate and you get to cross it as you head up the mountain towards Simba Camp, which is the first campsite you encounter.
The Rongai gate vegetation Zone
The Nalemuru/Nalemoru gate of Rongai is sandwiched between two Mount Kilimanjaro zones; the lower part eats a short distance into the rainforest zone while the rest of the gate area lies in the big game animals’ habitat of the heather zone.
Due to its remote location, the Rongai gate is rarely used, as it is a bit far from the main touristic cities. This gate is a whole 2-hour drive from the nearest town, Moshi, and 3 hours away from Arusha town.
Also, the fact that it is seldom used and receives very low traffic of climbers, it is relatively smaller in size and most of the roads heading here are tarmacked to a certain point while the rest of the way is a tidy murram road.
A drive towards the Rongai gate offers stunning scenery on your way from Moshi, with various attractions located on the way to the gate. One attraction that is located on your way to Rongai is lake Chala.
Where does the Rongai Route start?
Trekking on the Rongai Route starts from the Rongai Gate, the entry point for entering the Kilimanjaro park located on the Northern side of Kilimanjaro near the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Distance from Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
The average trekking time from Rongai Gate to the first camp along the Rongai Route, Simba Camp is approximately 8 km or 5 miles and it would take you about 4 hours to reach there on foot.
Distance from Moshi to Rongai Gate
It will take you a 2-hour drive from Moshi town to the Rongai gate/Nalemuru/Nalemoru located to the North of Kilimanjaro which is about 93 km away in distance.
How long is the Rongai Route, from gate to gate?
The Rongai Route measures 72 kilometers long from gate to gate and it would take 6-7 days to complete climbing Mount Kilimanjaro using the Rongai Route.
